Goldeyes Edge RailCats to Even Series

The Goldeyes built a 4-0 lead through the middle innings in support of starting pitcher Edwin Carl (2-1) who earned the win. Carl allowed two earned runs on four hits in six and two-thirds, walking two and striking out three.

“Edwin’s fastball command was good tonight,” said Goldeyes’ hitting coach Tom Vaeth. “He had some good tilt on his pitches, and threw a real good game for us.”

Reggie Abercrombie led off the top of the second with a double to right-centre field, and scored three batters later when Victor Cruzado doubled down the left field line.

In the top of the fourth, Abercrombie singled to left with one out and took third on a Kevin Garcia double to right. After Josh Mazzola walked to load the bases, Cruzado walked on a full count to force home Abercrombie with the Goldeyes’ second run.

Andrew Sohn drew a one-out walk in the fifth and advanced to second on a wild pitch. With two outs, Reynaldo Rodriguez hit a popup behind the left side of the infield that was dropped in the wind by RailCats’ shortstop Andy DeJesus. Sohn scored on the error to make it 3-0. Abercrombie followed with a double to left that plated Rodriguez from first.

“The wind got Reggie,” said Vaeth on Abercrombie, who finished the night with four hits. “The third hit would have been a home run. He put four good at bats together, and was the good catalyst we needed tonight.”

The RailCats chipped away with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Reggie Wilson walked leading off and took second on a single to right from Christoph Bono. After Cole Fabio sacrificed the runners ahead, Alex Crosby beat out an infield single that brought home Wilson. DeJesus then lined a soft single to left to score Bono and cut the Goldeyes’ lead to 4-2. Carl escaped further trouble when Mitch Glasser grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Carl and Josh Blanco combined to work a scoreless bottom of the seventh. Bono led off the home eighth with an infield single. After Jack Charleston relieved Blanco, Fabio walked to put the tying runs on base. Crosby grounded out to first, which advanced the runners to second and third, and the RailCats pulled within 4-3 on a DeJesus groundout that scored Bono. With the tying run now on third, Charleston retired Glasser on a sharp comebacker to keep the Goldeyes ahead.

Victor Capellan struck out two during a perfect bottom of the ninth to earn his league-leading eighth save of the year.

“We’re not really firing on all cylinders right now, but we’re constantly working to get better,” said Vaeth. “It’s still early. There are some things we want to clean up, and when we start putting it all together, I think this team has some streaks in it. Until that happens, we’ll find a way to grind them out. That’s what we did tonight, and that’s what we’ll have to do again tomorrow.”

RailCats’ starter Daniel Minor (3-1) took the loss, allowing four runs, two earned, on six hits over seven innings. Minor walked four and struck out five.

The series concludes Wednesday night at 7:10 p.m. Shane Dawson (3-0, 3.38) takes on left-hander Alex Gunn (2-1, 2.16). All the action can be heard locally on 93.7 FM CJNU and worldwide at www.cjnu.ca

The Goldeyes return home on Friday when they host the Chicago Dogs at Shaw Park. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. Tickets for all Goldeyes’ home games are on sale now by calling 1-855-GOLDEYE, visiting www.ticketmaster.ca/Goldeyes, or visiting any Ticketmaster location, including the box office at Shaw Park.